Care home owner guilty of stealing from residents

A care home owner is facing a jail term after being convicted of stealing money from residents with learning disabilities.

Leicester Crown Court heard that Caroline Jane Rice (pictured) kept part of the money she withdrew from bank accounts on behalf of her residents, and covered up her theft by false accounting. The offences took place at Dove House in Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire, which she ran.

Rice, of Cossington Lane, Rothley, Leicestershire, who has two other residential homes in the county, denied all charges, saying she had “no need” to take the money. But she was convicted of three counts of theft totalling £500, and eight offences of false accounting to conceal thefts, totalling £745.

Judge Philip Head ordered six further charges of dishonestly obtaining money transfers to be dropped. She was also cleared on charges of duping a local authority out of thousands of pounds.

However, the judge told Rice: “You must expect a prison sentence.”

Rice was arrested last August after a former employee at Dove House became concerned about the level of care at the home, which had six residents with learning disabilities.

The alarm was also raised by the home’s acting manager, who discovered money was going missing from residents’ bank accounts. The offences took place between September 2004 and August 2005.

The case has been adjourned until later this month for the preparation of court reports.

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